Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Deputy John Tripp (third from right) accepts a check for $75,000 from Ford Motor Company to benefit the families of fallen Los Angeles County firefighters. The funds were raised during the L.A. Auto Show last Dece

Los Angeles County Fire Department

March 11, 2010

Los Angeles, Calif. – Ford Motor Company presented the Los Angeles County Fire Department with a $75,000 donation on Tuesday to honor the firefighters’ Widows and Orphans Fund.

The donation stems from Ford’s fundraising efforts at the Los Angeles Auto Show in December where Ford representatives and local firefighters were on hand to educate the public on fire safety and related LACOFD programs in order to raise money for the fund.

The Widows & Orphans Fund was set up by the Los Angeles County Firefighters Memorial Committee, Inc. in 2004 to provide immediate, one-time financial assistance to widows and orphans of firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty.

The Los Angeles County Firefighters Memorial Committee, Inc., a non-profit organization, was created on May 6, 1988 from the Family Support Group because the wives of fallen firefighters wanted to do something to honor their spouses.

The Los Angeles County firefighters and other county volunteers were on-site at the Ford booth throughout peak Auto Show hours to engage with show patrons, conduct Q&A sessions, discuss their daily jobs, and interact with attendees about the 2011 F-550 Super Duty First-Responder Fire Truck that was displayed.

“We commend Ford Motor Company for their continued support of the Los Angeles Country Fire Department and for their determination to keep the public engaged in fire safety,” said Chief Deputy of Fire Operations and Chairman of the Los Angeles County Firefighters Memorial Committee, John Tripp. “It’s great to see a company like Ford so committed to this important cause and we thank them for this generous donation.”

Ford’s fundraising program, which ran December 4-13, 2009, allowed Auto Show attendees to participate in test drives and product demos for which Ford Motor Company would donate a specified dollar amount toward the fund.

Show attendees were provided a “passport” to acquire stamps from various “checkpoints” within the Ford display. When all stamps were collected, attendees could redeem the passport with Ford representatives for a giveaway item and a $10 donation from Ford to the LACOFD Memorial Fund.

Attendees were encouraged to conduct a Park Assist demo or take a test drive on-site at one of two LA Convention Center locations. Once completed, Ford made a $20 donation to the Memorial Fund. Each show attendee had the opportunity to raise a total of $30 to the fund through their actions. In all, Ford raised $75,000.

“Ford has more first responder vehicles on the road than all other manufacturers combined, said Hal Dewsnap, Los Angeles Ford Lincoln Mercury Regional Manager. “We are proud to say that our vehicles are used by the brave men and women of the Los Angeles County Fire Department and many other first responders around the world, and it is with great pleasure that we present this donation to them today.”

The $75,000 for the Los Angeles County Firefighters Widows and Orphans Fund was raised in honor of the families of Fire Captain Tedmund Hall and firefighter Specialist Arnaldo Quinones, who were killed in the line of duty fighting the Station Fire.